Karen Dalton - Something On Your Mind

From the album In My Own Time
Yesterday any way you made it was just fine,
So you turned your days into night-time,
Didnt you know, you cant make it without ever even trying?
And somethings on your mind, isnt it
Let these times show you that youre breaking up the lines,
Leaving all your dreams too far behind,
Didnt you see, you cant make it without ever even trying?
And somethings on your mind.
Maybe another day youll want to feel another way, you cant stop crying,
You havent got a thing to say, you feel you want to run away
Theres no use trying, anyway.
Ive seen the writing on the wall,
Who cannot maintain will always fall,
Well, you know, you cant make it without ever even trying.
And somethings on your mind, isnt it
Tell the truth now, isnt it
And somethings on your mind, isnt it

[@TheEvolNemesis]

She was such a great musician, and a really cool lady too... She was our roommate for a few years when I was a kid back in the early 80s (my mother and I that is). She played one of her songs for me on her guitar one time, gave me one of her old albums, and I remember loving it and begging her to play for me all the time after that. She had a big gray tabby she named 'Bugs' who was one of the meanest cats I ever met in my life.

[@TheEvolNemesis]

***** We were living in downtown Manhattan in New York City... the Lower East Side, on 1st St. I know she had a small apartment in Chinatown, just off of Canal St. before that, which is where I first met her. She apparently had known either my mother or one of her friends for a while, I wasn't quite clear on those details, I was 9 or 10 at the time. I just remember being brought over there and visiting her for a little bit, and she showed me her guitar and an album of hers, and played a little bit for me... Soon afterwards she had to leave that apartment (I think she was having difficulties keeping up with the rent on that place) and came to stay with us for a few months. That's cool about finding her old neighbor. She was an interesting woman, I really liked her, even if her cat did scratch my dog's face up for no reason (the dog was totally gentle and she had no problem with cats, she didn't even do anything, the cat just decided to go for her eyes when he was sitting on a stool and she was walking past him... nasty thing) I have totally lost contact with anyone else from back then that might remember her, unfortunately, and my mom died when I was 18.

[@cpq2nrjh]

Jesse Finnerty Thanks Jesse - I find those memories so interesting. It warms the heart to hear of Karen's kindness to you. It sounds like you would have been happier without the presence of Bugs. Hope your dog healed well and quickly. Karen's neighbor from Enid, Oklahoma is named Mike. He was a friend of Karen's younger brother and remembers the brother having "two older, very pretty sisters". At the time Mike contacted me he was totally unaware of Karen's music career.

[@TheEvolNemesis]

***** I'm glad I was able to share them... it's rare I get to talk about things I remember from my childhood. That's pretty interesting about her neighbor... I really did enjoy knowing her... I'm happy I could give at least a little insight into her life for you. As for the dog, her eye clouded up for a little while but healed okay, she just ended up with a little scar on her face. She stayed far away from Bugs after that... She lived to 16, a very ripe old age for a Doberman Pinscher (they typically average about 10 years).

[@vaca2bg]

Jesse Finnerty nh

[@Spectrescup]

Things like this justify the very existence of KZbin's often vile comment culture .Tiny windows into the lives of the semi-obscure but fully adored. Quite genuinely,I think about your story almost every time I listen to Karen.

[@mosettastone]

The more I listen to this song, the more amazed I am at its brilliance. The sound - and style - was perfect.

[@thesoulofsky]

Thanks to Manuel Agnelli, singer-songwriter and judge of X Factor Italy, for having made me discover this soul of music❤

[@rfplanning4709]

I heard this song first time today, played out towards the end of this Netflix movie Something from Tiffany's. I got locked, searched for the song, kept it on replay. Heaven is blessed to have her.

[@robertsanda507]

If this song is played at my funeral, don't be alarmed as I would surely sit up and listen, clap, and then lay back down.

[@AnjelSnow]

Beautiful song just heard it now for the first time. Hello from east coast Canada

[@Ren-x5v]

Epic response

[@ExtremeBeatlesArchive]

Might as well get up and have a cup.

[@matthewarnold8100]

I can't believe I've lived this long without hearing this. So, so damn good.

[@darienhigh]

ME NEITHER!!!

[@kennyharris2407]

Exactly same as me too, Unbelievable...

[@jeremyb251]

Black Keys did a really good cover of it.

[@faithonwumere4204]

Same, I just arrived and it touched my soul ❤.

[@sue-annewatsonstitt148]

Where was she? Love her ❤

[@chrisarnold6852]

Wow,wow seems timeless,in two hundred years this will still make folks cry,then smile.

[@ernestkovach3305]

What a passionate singer. Great song .Unique voice.

[@iCEL55]

OMG this is beautiful! I had never heard it. What a beautiful haunting voice!

[@rebeccaalston7504]

Yes it is beautiful! That's what I felt when I first heard it some years ago.

[@markrothkopf5598]

I was listening to Bod Dylan Ballad of a Thin Mind; Dylan was asked who his favorite singer is. He said Karen Dalton. I know so much music but somehow missed her. Glad I found her

[@memzepper6096]

Ha!. Same route 😂…

[@gostrum1]

Like Dylan she has a unique voice.

[@martinpollard8846]

I am absolutely devastated to finally look into this awesome woman, I want this at my wake and people can go WhoTF is this.

[@dachicagoan8185]

Same

[@bonnie27sinc]

I was reading about Bob Dylan and came across Karen Dalton, so glad I had, this song is beautiful, amazing voice and musician ❤

[@madonnaborromeo3961]

Gosh ...her vocals gives me chills...what a unique quality she has to sound.

[@robertburr9612]

FILM IN BACKGROUND IS FROM "IN THE SUBURBS" a 1957 film made for REDBOOK MAGAZINE by TRACY WARD of ON FILM, INC. PRINCETON, NJ.

[@bulboes]

Thanks for sharing this valued informations, Robert Burr. The whole movie is available here, for free: archive.org/details/IntheSub1957

[@justinlehr8183]

Well I guess that explains the caucasity

[@chloecamille298]

this song is just so beautiful.

[@spiderrico7709]

Wow !!! Amazing voice. This song can make me cry with a smile on my face.

[@daviddortch2088]

Her voice had qualities of all of legendary greats.

[@RockDove5212]

It absolutely does

[@johnbeekman8931]

I've never heard of her but this song played out at the end of 5th episode of BBC series The Serpent. I had to find out what it was which led me hear. Loved it. So melancholy.

[@Paul-zb9om]

Yeah that's how I got here as well

[@Daytripn9]

Got here by reading who Bob Dylan's favorite singer was. Really like this song

[@neilfisher8346]

Nice one - I don’t remember it from The Serpent, but I’ve just heard it on One Day (Netflix). Great song

[@eifossnomis3176]

Same!

[@schnook11]

The violin just kills me every time...it's so beautiful. Crank it.

[@rebeccaalston7504]

I've always loved it too, in addition to Karen Dalton's heart wrenching voice.

[@nudgessmudges]

Her voice is so beautiful.

[@robertsanda507]

The best way to enjoy this song and video is to imagine yourself watching it through your rearview mirror as you drive through an empty desert highway to nowhere with very little money and gas after experiencing the greatest heartbreak of your life. Very, very impressive.

[@scullycat1676]

What a great comment!

[@robertsanda507]

A sultry, soothing,rare voice. How on earth I haven't heard of her before now. Thanks Bob Dylan, you rock!

[@mikesmith2057]

I just came here from a list Lou Reed made of his six favorite songs! What did Dylan say?

[@dustinmccain1215]

Just heard this on "Mayans". Incredible, just ordered the album. Very unique sound!

[@PROPMONEYTV31]

Same

[@michaellepine506]

If anyone is wondering who playing the incredible violin part on this, its Bobby Notkoff who did a lot of studio work on the east coast in the '70s. Crazy dude but very talented.

[@frereanaktom99]

+Michael Lepine yes.. i was wondering same with a couple of van morrison tracks - could not stand alone. violin not only for beethoven. i love it in rockpopfolk

[@michaellepine506]

It might be Jean-Luc Ponty playing with Van Morrison. He is one of the Greats in the jazz/rock genre.

[@crazeehorse]

Wasn't he in the Rockets too?

[@randallboehme1128]

@@crazeehorse Neil Young - Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets)

[@andegf]

one of my favorite violin solos. thanks for sharing

[@cymbula]

The most perfect synthesis between video and song on KZbin for the most perfect song. A snapshot of a lost and poignantly brief world of plenty and hope, vanished in 50 years, and Karen Dalton's voice....................

[@davemellow2571]

She was a lesser-known folkie of Omaha Indigenous origin, and part of the 1960s Village folk scene. Dylan recalls her in Chronicle, and The Band’s “Katie’s been gone” is supposedly about her. She has a cult following. Her 1971 LP, In my own time, has “Something on your mind,” composed by Dino Valenti, as first track. Dalton enters a shockingly no-shit intimate grief and longing with her scratchy, plaintive voice. The song, ancient-sounding, seems to come from a long way back in the self. Karen was likely singing to herself about her (known) drug abuse: saw you turn your days into nighttime… you can’t make it without ever even trying… Pedal steel and piercing fiddle (Bill Keith and Bobby Notkoff) echo grief and regret. She doesn’t altogether give up on hope: maybe some day, you’ll want to feel another way… Ms. Dalton reportedly struggled with powerful self-consciousness. Friends who attended an early 70s show said she came on stage and departed quickly. People who were in the studio say substances were a problem. Karen became a drug-addicted street person, who died of HIV and AIDS in 1993. For me this simple song, about being torn up with oneself, has a dark, shining beauty, and hasn’t lost impact in 45 years. I wanted to vouch for this exceptionally resonant bulletin from the conscience.

[@ParkvilleLuminary]

Great share, my friend. I lived on Carmine and Bleecker in the Village in the 90s and was visiting a record store and they had her on in the background. I of course asked about who was playing and this 60 something Village rat proceeded to tell me all sorts of stories about her (tragic...mental illness, homelessness, frustration, pain) but she is still revered as a legend in the 4th Street area among the olds and survivors of the Village scene with good reason. She is fantastic. Love her.

[@xill666]

Thanks for the info.

[@BrendanJohnDoherty]

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing 😊

[@michellelekas211]

Thanks! She was from Enid Oklahoma, though

[@alfrede.neuman8898]

She died in West Hurley, NY in a rented trailer owned by Peter Walker. It’s still located on Eagles Nest Rd.

[@michellelekas211]

She is amazing. Good to see her work finally getting notice. She would have made the best source material for the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis." I never heard her live but went to a Santana concert where she was booked to open but never showed. Her manager. Mark Lang should never have plunked her into arenas: absurd. Nice video, Phil. Thank you.

[@amyowens4886]

I heard this at the end of the movie Birthmarked. It really grabbed me. Hauntingly beautiful! I'm a child of the 60s and I had never heard of her either.

[@syadrinarachmaparamita9345]

me too!!

[@slmUSA]

R.I.P. Karen Dalton. She's been gone since 1993 but has a timeless voice.

[@dhandhan8825]

Oh

[@elleisme8565]

Her voice touches the deepest parts of my soul!

[@Sunshine-do3yv]

Mayans MC brought me here...🎵🎵🎵🌹🌹🌹 beautiful, had to look it up and listen....❤️❤️❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 sunshine 🌻🌻

[@useless__13]

hohohoho same bro🤜🤛

[@alanfair4415]

when I listen to Karen Dalton I feel the edges of the ocean tugging at the rocks of the land, I hear every broken heart bleeding into the sea and all the hope of the world crying for a fortune that it can never find, Karen all that time poured into the blue veins of your longing stayed forever for someone., and we are all still here at the shoreline of desire. Alan

[@clawpuss2]

Beautifully said

[@markhemming318]

That was a bit shallow.

[@djduffy1000]

So eloquent, beautiful words sum up how I feel listening. Thank you.

[@valkyria4631]

This song always calls to mind helpless, resigned crying for me. The loud, heavy kind that makes your ribs sore and leaves you feel hollowed out afterwards.

[@drumgold23]

It's perfect.

[@alfrede.neuman8898]

Had Her LP In My Own Time Upon It's Initial Release (70-71). A Friend Asked Me To Get Him A Copy Of It. We Were Both Shocked At The Vocals Then. Upon Re - listening Now It's Awesome.

[@dannykenehan498]

I was put on to this song last year after listening to kenny island discs with the brilliant Michael head. couldn't stop playing it and delved in to the history and her back catalogue.. beautiful stuff....... that violin! .. gets me every time. Rip karen x

[@droidzlander]

this song is so sweet and melancholy that I feel like I've been stabbed in my heart everytime I listen to it. I love it so much.

[@patrickwallace5531]

This ladys voice just breaks my heart

[@johngrauman4208]

Just beautiful and unique. Doesn't even seem dated like some songs become

[@1KSarah]

The video brought tears to my eyes. Long gone childhood.

[@HYPNOTICVIDEO]

It all goes by fast. We lose loved ones and family.

[@christophermaxieii8727]

One of my favorite tracks of all time. Just one of those songs.

[@NannyKateYT]

One day,netflix led me here,awesome song , brilliant lyrics

[@MrMacheprot]

Superbe chanson ! J'avais acheté le SP début des 70's. Beau souvenir...

[@georgik1963]

Whoever made this video is a genius. It just so beautifully captures the pathos of the song -- that our decay is most painfully apparent at our peak of strength and beauty. This is the "American high" of the early 1960s, when Karen Dalton sang. Like John Keats reminded by his nightingale: "That beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes / Nor new love pine at them beyond tomorrow."

[@cristiana991]

the video is heart-wrenching the meaningless fake dreams and nothingness but somehow the "trying" is telling that something different is still possible?

[@johngallaghermusic9777]

Just discovered Karen a little while back . She is mezmorising.

[@porfiriorubirosaofficial]

Her voice is a razor for my heart. Amazing and terrible.

[@annacarolina2264]

karen dalton absurdamente incrível! ❤️

[@benkelly7499]

God, this song and video is just beautiful. I’ll just be watching this and realize I have tears rolling down my face

[@augustodigon5377]

La voz de Karen entra directamente en todos las células de cuerpo. La canción ya preciosista la hace magistral.¡ Dioses por que me habéis castigado en tardar tanta parte de mi vida en disfrutar del color y el calor de esa voz !

[@frereanaktom99]

+Augusto Digon estoy de acuerdo. lleve 50 anyos sin conocer esta musica de los angeles. ahora lo escucho diario [soy ingles - espero q me entiendas]

[@leftywright6458]

Dalton's great singing goes without saying but what a cool video!!!!!

[@MegaSnippezz]

Absolutely beautiful song. You'd definitely know Joni Mitchell was inspired off Karen's music. Both influential, amazing folk songwriters.

[@vincecarnevale4406]

Nice film to go with the song.

[@michaelcleary-i5j]

Just beautiful. l was trying to think of something clever to say but I think that says it all.

[@leighvaughton2740]

Unusual song and performance, just heard it over the end credits on The Serpent. Cracking.

[@DreyaDenness]

Same! Literally just heard it for the first time, the lyrics really resonated with me and I just had to hear the entire song. 🥰

[@robertaglick2638]

Same here! I'm 60. How did I never know about her before?

[@lalitasaki]

A young french director made a film about her : Emmanuelle Antille, A Bright Light : Karen and the process, 2018

[@tomcornett]

Only a wonderful soul can sing like this.

[@iangalbraith1993]

Love love love this! My car song for many years now. Never gets old.

[@poppiseedz]

I’ll love this song eternally

[@tomglenn485]

I only wish if I bought her music today it would have made her life better while she lived... Karen you made aching that special kinda art.

[@PreparingForSHTF]

I came across this song on an episode of Amazon's Transparent. I love her voice and I really love the song. The instrumentation would be worth listening to by itself. The song is very appropriate for the scene that it was used in. It's a little haunting, though.

[@jeffbros293]

thats the sweetest violin ive ever heard

[@kitthearty]

omg i am 60 and got here from suze rotlo's book and i am so glad i left it so long to find such a gem and such a stupid pity she had such a bad time. this is not just a peach it is a master peach. the violin sounds a bit van morrison

[@laroo56]

+Kit Heart I just turned 60 too! I got here from Barney Hoskyns upcoming, Small Town Talk which I can highly recommend (pub. date March). I didn't know what to expect exactly when I got here, but I love her! I'm going to guess that the violin is Bobby Notkoff, as Hoskyns describes his playing on "Katie Cruel" as "spooky electric." Cheers!

[@tats5880]

Am chiming in, I just turned 63, always looking for new music 🎶 and Karen pop up. And just thought I'd give it a listen. you tube is a great way to find new and old music. Can't believe I've just found this astonishing beautiful woman...

[@gcocraw]

what a great song. i keep wanting to hear it again and again, love the video

[@JoeMC7]

This is pure natural talent, sometimes I think nothing can touch me these days, but "Something On Your Mind" sure did.

[@meshelldelarosa4822]

Lyrics Yesterday Any way you made it was just fine Saw you turn your days into night-times Didn't you know? You can't make it without ever even trying And something's on your mind, isn't it? Let these times Show you that you're breaking up your mind Leaving all your dreams too far behind Didn't you see? You can't make it without ever even trying And something's on your mind Maybe another day you'll want to feel another way You can't stop crying You haven't got a thing to say You feel you want to run away There's no use trying anyway I've seen the writing on the wall Who cannot maintain will always fall Will you know? You can't make it without ever even trying And something's on your mind, isn't it? Tell the truth now, isn't it? Something's on your mind

[@DannybFlat01]

Thank You

[@stevewilkins4987]

Yet another unsung hero of mine and many tens of thousands of others. We will see you soon my dear we will see you soon my dear Karen

[@mikie5g]

Mayans brought me here.. Love this track!!

[@gosiahandcraftandme4935]

I'm so thankful Cole❤ You showed me this song ❤ Big fan of Cole from Poland. 💔

[@mountainkat5248]

I've been a Karen Dalton fan for many years now. Most people have never heard of her. So imagine my shock when I am watching the episode of The Umbrella Academy where Luther and Klaus walk into a bar and Something On Your Mind is playing on the jukebox in the background. Thought I'd die.

[@niviamaeva]

Goosebumps reading your comment 😳🙈

[@bobbo1946]

..would see her around the village in the 60's..appreciate her more now...voice has a bit of lady day in it...honesty..

[@sophiamalik7909]

Breton Fiddler, Paddy Le Mercier, with the band Baka Beyond, is truly reminiscent of Bobby Notkoff extraordinary violin on this track ...sublime and exquisite ..... really worth listening to

[@dom4293]

Just a fantastic track. Great job St. Vinny for covering it

[@SarahWells777]

Here b/c I heard this on Gunpowder Milkshake,and loved it..🥰❤️

[@reelincoln7747]

She was SO good

[@tonygareth221]

Thanks Shantaram for introducing me to this!!!

[@ajeje1996]

For some reason I listened to Katie Cruel a thousand times, yet I missed this gem... terrific song

[@peterburleigh9766]

Way, way, way, way, way before her time. I feel her time is coming, she has a movie about her life coming out soon, and like searching for sugar man, I feel it is going to bring her music back and be appreciated like it should.

[@jst2715]

We will be watching you , Nadine.

[@andthediamandis6507]

❤

[@bernardARGEL]

Le blues le plus pur, l'image féminine de Alan Wilson, splendide,

[@sconescone6848]

song makes me cry

[@LUIZGUSTAVO-wv6tm]

I love cry with it.

[@HYPNOTICVIDEO]

Yeah it does.

[@kubricksghost6058]

Her voice is adorable but so filled with trouble. I can relate to this song a lot.

[@thebechod]

Thank you so much for posting this.. Everyday should start with a huge dose of KD. Peace with you sweet soul.

[@TheAlexwriter]

Bless you forever, Karen...

[@ThroughBirdEye]

What a nostalgic feeling 😵

[@metafuel]

Wow! Awesome. Heard this in a series. Glad I did.

[@JeffreyCuell]

Hauntingly beautiful

[@johnnyfarout]

this video&song touched some part of my long ago childhood heart; part of my *sniff* sniffing* for our america, where we all live... boomer america

[@wheatabeat]

It's when that violin kicks in. It touches something nothing else can.

[@finnkdy]

It's wot violins in the background do. 😥

[@timwebber8630]

I just heard this song at the end of the closing credits from the movie "Rumble." It featured Karen in it as well as other musicians. What breaks my heart is that she has already passed and I never even knew of her or heard of her (though, I know many have). It just hits hard when such a beautiful song is still here, but the artist is gone, and I've just learned of them. Such a beautiful song.

[@melissasalasblair5273]

Such an amazing song 💙🐙💭🌌🎥

[@veganvocalist4782]

What a distinctive voice :D Love the beautiful video , perfect for the song

[@BonGrips]

Just incredible

[@bennyho2999]

2023 February 16, in the early morning 0653hrs.... Singapore, I'm listening.

[@MysticalHydra]

Hooray! A version that's available in my country. Many thanks for this amazing song!

[@Tik075]

Who is here because of Mayans MC ? I found this song in one of the scenes and had to know who sang it. After reading the comments below from Jesse Finnerty I was even more into the artist.

[@kennyharris2407]

Yeh, me too, knew i had to find it from when i heard the first word and my brain went still, now i'm Hooked on her.

[@carmaela2689]

this is just so damn good

[@MildlyAnnoyedAHM]

On my playlist. Love this song.

[@fodiographer]

goosebumbs all over!

[@crappyaccount]

This made me nostalgic for a time i wasn't even around to see

[@trw5653]

I adore her voice and music she sings.

[@TheDaniel688]

The song was used in Gunpowder Milkshake which premiered today on Netflix.

[@rosegeaber7533]

Who is this woman?! I just heard her song in a movie and stopped the movie to find the song and the artist! Wow! I don't know much but I do know true music and this song is pure! Wow! Where have I been to not know this person's music!!!

[@cristiana991]

i did exactly the same